Busbar system for electrolysis cells

ABSTRACT

Bus bar system for high power electrolysis cells in which the cathode collector bars are located below the cathode and follow straight lines in horizontal projection. At least three cathode collector bars are connected at each side of each cell to ensure a uniform current supply to the electrodes. The ascending anode bars pass through openings formed in the plates of the horizontal flange support of the cathode shell, and the cross section of each one of these openings is larger than the cross section of the ascending busbar, in order to avoid an electrical contact between the support and the bar in case of a later deformation of the cathode shell.

States atent 1191 rate 1111 3,847,782

Kolosy Nov. 12, 1974 BUSBAR SYSTEM FOR ELECTROLYSIS 2,999,801 9/l96l Wleugel 204/244 CELLS 2,892,767 6/1959 Wcndt et a] 204 244 3,067,l24 l2/l962 De Pava 204/244 Inventor: EH10 y, Budapest, g y 360,517 4/1887 Emley 204/207 Assigneez v Aluterv Aluminiumipari Tervezo 2,834,728 5/1958 Gallone 204/267 Vanalat Budapest Hungary Primary E.\'amir1er-.l0hn H. Mack [22] Filed: Mar. 4, 1970 Assistant Examiner-W. l. Solomon [2l] Appl. No.: 16,429 [57] ABSTRACT Bus bar system for high power electrolysis cells in Forelgn Appllcatlon Prlol'liy Data which the cathode collector bars arelocatcd below Mar. 24, 1969 Hungary AU 213 the cathode and follow straight lines in horizontal pro jection. At least three cathode collector bars are con- [521 [LS Cl 204/267, 204/243 R, 204/244, nected at each side of each cell to ensure a uniform 204/279 current supply to the electrodes. The ascending anode [51] Int. Cl. C22d 1/02, C22d 3/02 bars pass through openings formed in the plates of the [58] Field of Search 204/244, 253, 254, 255, horizontal flange support of the cathode shell, and the 204/256, 257, 258, 267, 268, 269, 270, 279, cross section of each one of these openings is larger 243 R than the cross section of the ascending busbar, in

order to avoid an electrical contact between the sup- [56] References Cited port and the bar in case of a later deformation of the UNITED STATES PATENTS cathode Shell- 3,408,282 10/1968 Frank 204/243 R 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures E IIIIIIIIII,IIIIIIIIIII{IIII{!II(* PATENT}; :zav 1 21914 Fig 4 INVENTOR. v

Er'nc'i KULOSY M L /@"w ATTORNEY I 1 BUSBAR SYSTEM FOR ELECTROLYSIS CELLS The invention relates to a busbar system for electroI-- 'a still greater portion of the total cost, since also the distance between neighbouring cells is increased, which has to be bridged over by the bars and, because in case of high power cells the cells must be supplied with current from both sides thereof, in order to provide for adequate current flow. Therefore the weight of the aluminium bars of a 70 to 80 kA furnace powered by electrolysis cells amounts to about tons, while that of the aluminium bars of a l 10 to 120 kA furnace powered by electrolysis cells may be as high as tons. Nevertheless establishing of higher power units is essential, because with these the productivity increases and the specific area of furnaces decreases, and these factors counterbalance the important shortcomings originating from the abruptly increasing cost of bars.

It is an object of the present invention to establish an arrangement of bars for high power cells, in which the cost of the bars per unit of current is not greater, than that with medium power cells. In the design of the present invention, which differs considerably from traditional arrangements, the bars are arranged so as to occupy as small an area as possible in the cell housing.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a busbar system for electrolysis-cells in which there is disposed side by side an anode, a cathode, metal main cathode collector bars, main anode collector bars, said cells being connected electrically by means of ascending anode bars and cathode collector bar sections, and wherein said cathode collector bars are located below the cathode and follow straight lines in horizontal projection. By means of this busbar system the smallest possible area is occupied within the cell housing, and the investment costs of the bars per unit current are substantially decreased. Advantageously there are connected to each cell side at least three cathode collector bars. The uniform current supply to the electrodes is ensured in this way. According to another feature of the invention the busbar section connecting the metal cathode collector bars with the ascending anode bars consists, of a single coherent flexible piece clamped together into several bundles. In this way the expansion of the cathode is ensured and the rigid ascending anode bar can follow the movement of the anode.

The ascending anode bar preferably passes through openings formed in the plates of the horizontal flange support each one of these cathode, and the cross section of the openings is larger than the cross section of the ascending busbar, in order to avoid an electrical contact between the support and the bar in case of a later deformation of the cathode shell. In this way an air gap is always present between the support and the bar.

The busbar system of the invention is described by way of examples in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is .a vertical sectional view which illustrates somewhat schematically four cells in a series of cells.

FIG. 2 is the plan view of the four cells FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the ascending anode bar also showing a portion of the cell.

FIG. 4 is the plan view of the same portion of the cell.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there are shown tracings of current carrying sections leading from a cathode 1 to an anode 2. Each one of the sections includes a horizontal cathode collector bar 3 and a vertical anode ascending bar 4. The arrangement according to the invention is shown schematically on four cells of an electrolysis series. The cells are disposed side by side and the current is conducted from one side of a cell through at least three cathode collector bars 3, so that the current is conducted from one cell to the other through three cathode bars 3. Accordingly, current supply to anode 2 is effected by the ascending bars 4 similarly with at least three bars. As a result of feeding the anode current via several bars the main anode collecting bar not shown in the drawings is more evenly charged with current than would be the case if current would be conducted, as it is in the prior art arrangements, via the two extremities only. The current supply arrangement according to the invention makes it possible to consid erably reduce the cross section area of the main anode collecting bar.

According to the invention the three cathode collector bars 3 extend from three cathode collector bars 9 disposed on the one side of the cathode l of a first one of the electrolysis cells which are arranged side by side. The bars 3 extend under said cells horizontally in such a way that a plan view, i.e., the horizontal projection of these bars 3 should follow straight lines to that side of the next cell which faces the first cell. At that position the bars 3 are connected to the three vertical ascending anode bars 4. From the other side of the cathode l of the first cell similarly three collector bar sections 3 extend, passing under the cathode l of the second cell and join the ascending anode bars 4 on the other side of the second cell. This arrangement continues through the whole series of cells, and consequently each cell is fed with current from both sides in three places each.

In order to facilitate the connection of the collector bars 3 to the respective main cathode collector bar and to the anode ascending bars, the cathode collector bars 3 consist, in their full length, of a single coherent flexiblepiece, clamped together to form several bundles. In this way the cathode collector bars 3 can follow.the expansion of the cathode, and the ascending anode bar 4 can follow the movement of the anode.

It is also possible to employ more than three cathode collector bars 3 and ascending anode bars 4 with the system according to the invention, which results in a further reduction of the main anode bar cross section.

According to FIGS. 3 and 4 the ascending anode bar 4 passes through openings 8 in the plates 7 of the horizontal flange support 6 of the shell 5 of the cathode 1. In contrast to the arrangements of the prior art, the ascending anode bar is located externally with respect to the cathode shell. The cross sectional area of theopenings 8 is larger than the cross sectional area of the ascending anode bar 4, so that there is always an air gap between the ascending anode bar 4 and the plates 7 there is always an air gap which ensures the electric insulation between them. The openings 8 should be larger than the cross sectional area of the ascending anode bar 4 by such an amount that a subsequent deformation of the cathode I should not result in an electrical contact between the support 6 and the bar 4. The arrangement of the ascending anode bars 4 according to the invention results in an increase of the free space between the cells by reducing the space requirement for'the ascending anode bars.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, I wish to have it understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiments but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a busbar system including a plurality of crosswise disposed electrolysis cells juxtaposed in a row, each of said cells having an anode and a cathode disposed below the anode, and electrical connecting juxtaposed cells, each of said conductors having a section located below the cathode and following a straight line in a horizontal projection, at least three of said conductors being arranged on each side of each cathode, each of said electrical connecting means being formed in its full length of a single coherent flexible piece which consists of several components that are clamped together into several bundles, each cathode including a shell having a flange portion having opcnings corresponding in number to the number of connecting means at each cell, each one of said connecting means extending through an opening in said flange portion.

2. The improvement in a busbar system as defined in claim 1, wherein the crosssectional area of each one of the openings is larger than the cross-sectional area of the connecting means extending therethrough, and the connecting means are spaced from the wall of the respective opening. 

1. In a busbar system including a plurality of crosswise disposed electrolysis cells juxtaposed in a row, each of said cells having an anode and a cathode disposed below the anode, and electrical connecting means, the improved electrical connecting means comprising electrical conductors electrically connecting the cathode of each electrolysis cell to the anode of an adjacent electrolysis cell of said plurality of crosswise juxtaposed cells, each of said conductors having a section located below the cathode and following a straight line in a horizontal projection, at least three of said conductors being arranged on each side of each cathode, each of said electrical connecting means being formed in its full length of a single coherent flexible piece which consists of several components that are clamped together into several bundles, each cathode including a shell having a flange portion having openings corresponding in number to the number of connecting means at each cell, each one of said connecting means extending through an opening in said flange portion.
 2. The improvement in a busbar system as defined in claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of each one of the openings is larger than the cross-sectional area of the connecting means extending therethrough, and the connecting means are spaced from the wall of the respective opening. 